Ladder support

ABSTRACT

A ladder support comprising a receptacle member shaped to receive an end portion of a stile of a ladder through an open end of said receptacle member, the other end of said receptacle member being shaped into a universal joint component, a base member for said support, said base member having a cooperating universal joint member extending from a central area thereof, and means for joining said receptacle member to said base member in cooperative engagement of universal joint components.

United States Patent 938,219 10/1909 Crumb [72] Inventor Thomas .I. Lyons 1252 Superior Ave, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15212 [21] Appl. No. 863 [22] Filed Jan. 6, 1970 [45] Patented Aug. 24, 1971 [54] LADDER SUPPORT 15 Claims, 3 Drawing Fig.

[52] US. Cl 182/204 [51] 1nt.C1 E06c7/44 {50] Field of Search 182/204, 203, 205; 287/21; 52/1884, 188.8

. 1 9 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 970,425 9/1910 Curran 182/205 3,081,114 3/1963 Esty 287/21 FOREIGN PATENTS 836,612 6/1960 Great Britain 182/204 Primary Examiner-Reinaldo P. Machado Attorney-Don .1. Smith ABSTRACT: A ladder Support comprising a receptacle member shaped to receive an end portion of a stile of a ladder through an open end of said receptacle member, the other end of said receptacle member being shaped into a universal joint component, a base member for said support, said base member having a cooperating universal joint member extending from a central area thereof, and means for joining said receptacle member to said base member in cooperative engagement of universal joint components.

PATENTEU AUG24 as?! 'ullh LADDER SUPPORT.

The present invention relates to a'novel ladder support arrangement for one or both legs of the ladder and more particularly to a ladder support having an adjustment mechanism of unique construction. The invention also is concerned with an adjustable ladder foot mechanism which is capable of enhanced traction and support for the ladder.

For centuries and even millennia, the common ladder has existed virtually in its latter day form. During this time no adequate provision has been made for utilizing ladders on any but firm and level surfaces, without considerable risk of the ladder slipping and falling. The ideal flat and firm supporting surface, nevertheless, is almost never encountered in construction, remodeling, and repair projects, and this applies to both industrial and commercial projects as well as to domestic activities of this character. The use of conventional ladders, therefore, is not without considerable hazard for the construction worker and the repairman, not to mention carpenters, roofers, electricians, outdoor sign'painters and other working men, and last but not least the do-it-yourselfer. The time-immemorialized ladder construction invariably consists of two matching stiles rigidly connected by a number of spaced and transverse rungs. Obviously such construction is inappropriate for use on sloping grades or other hilly terrain, on roof structures, or in construction projects where a flat, more or less smooth supporting surface is seldom available. Erection of a ladder under these conditions results either in a dangerous'tilt angle or in propping one or both of the ladder legs or lower stile ends. In either case the ladder is rendered unstable and hazardous to the working man who must use it. In those few cases where a ladder can be used on'substantially flat grades, the supporting soil or other surface frequently is soft, and one of the ladder legs can penetrate the supporting surface to a greater extent than the other, with the ladder assuming a tilted position, from which it can easily slip or fall, particularly when the workmans weight is applied.

When using conventional ladder constructions, it is necessary to lean the ladder at a fairly steep ascent angle against an upright supporting surface or wall. If the ascent angle is decreased, a point is reached'at which, depending upon the character of the supporting surface at the lower end of the ladder, the ladder legs will kick out owing to the decreased angle at which the weight vector is applied. It is desirable therefore to provide for use under these conditions a support mechanism for each ladder leg which will considerably enhance the fractional engagement between the lower end of the ladder and its supporting surface. My invention contemplates primarily or in conjunction with such fraction enhancing means an adjustable ladder support of unique character, which can be utilized with one or both legs of the ladder as desired, and which can be readily installed or removed.

I am aware of the efforts of others in this area, as typified for example by the US. Pat. to Needham No. 2,371,460; Minnick No. 2,213,471; Bachman No. 1,179,391; and Weiss No. 666,948'. Also of interest is British Pat. No. 836,612. In the Needham and British ladder mechanisms a socket shaped to receive a ladder foot is connected to a base member through joint means of more or less universal construction. In the British device, the socket itself is moved vertically as the screw adjustment is turned. The socket of the Needham mechanism on the other hand remains stationary, but the adjustment is not continuous, which would be disadvantageous in most applications. The support mechanism, moreover, cannot readily be removed, and considerable hardware is consumed in the universal joint arrangements with attendant complication of the prior ladder supports. The Minnick and Weiss arrangements require the use of nonconventional ladder constructions and there is no universal positioning of one or more ladder feet. The Bachman ladder foot is similar to the Needham arrangement except that at least part of the adjustable foot must be permanently secured to the ladder.

I am also aware of certain nonanalogous supporting mechanisms, for example the US. Pat. to Holm No. 2,666,608; Schmidt No. 2,318,017 and Leyner No. 1,065,060. These patents are of interest only inthat different types of rather complex universal joints are shown.

I overcome these disadvantages of the prior art and provide a unique ladder-supporting mechanism of surprising simplicity in construction. The support can be readily installed on or removed from either or both legs of the ladder, and its adjustment feature is provided with a minimum of moving parts. For example, the ladder socket forming part of my invention is relatively stationary while the ladder is in use for enhanced strength and ease of operation. A movable ladder support member can be mounted within the socket to engage the lower end of an associated ladder stile for adjustable elevation thereof. My novel socket structure is coupled to a base member or foot by means of a universal joint, the major components of which can be formed on the socket and base member with surprising efficiency and simplicity of construction. In certain applications only one of the ladder stiles need be provided with my removable ladder support mechanism. In other cases both ladder stiles can be so provided. In any event my novel ladder support can be made adjustable in further accord with my invention. The foot portion of my ladder support can be further modified, within the scope of my invention, to enhance its frictional engagement with a particular supporting surface on which the ladder is utilized. As set forth previously the aforementioned references do not afford any of these desirable ends, which are described with greater particularity below.

I accomplish these desirable ends by providing a ladder support comprising a receptacle member shaped to receive an end portion of a stile of a ladder through an open end of said receptacle member, the other end of said receptacle member being shaped into a universal joint component, a base member for said support, said base member having a cooperating universal joint member extending from a central area thereof, and means for joining said receptacle member to said base member in cooperative engagement of theiruniversal joint components.

I also desirably provide a similar ladder support wherein said joining means include a securance stud affixed to one of said joint components and spacedly inserted through an aperture in the other of said joint components, and means for movably attaching said securance stud to. an opposite surface of said other component.

I also desirably provide an adjustable ladder support comprising an elongated receptacle member shaped to receive an end portion of a ladder stile through one end thereof, means for supporting the other end of said receptacle member, a stile plate movably mounted within said receptacle and engageable with an end of said stile to determine the extent of insertion of said stile end portion into said receptacle member, and means for moving said stile plate along at least a portion of the length of said receptacle member.

I also desirably provide a similar ladder support wherein said receptacle member is joined to said support means through a universal joint construction.

I also desirably provide a similar ladder support wherein said universal joint construction includes universal joint components respectively on said receptacle member and said support means.

I also desirably provide a similar ladder support wherein said stile plate is substantially coextensive with a cross-sectional area of said receptacle member, and said moving means include a jack mechanism threadedly engaged with said stile plate. During the foregoing discussion, various objects, features and advantages of the invention have been set forth. These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention together with structural details thereof will be elaborated upon during the forthcoming description of certain presently preferred embodiments of the invention and presently preferred methods of practicing the same! In the accompanying drawings I have shown certain presently preferred embodiments of the invention and have illustrated certain presently preferred methods of practicing the same, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of one form of ladder support arranged in accordance with my invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertically sectioned view of the apparatus as shown in FIG. 1 and taken along reference line IIII thereof; and

FIG. 3 is a reduced isometric view of a similar ladder support, but illustrating the use of a modified base member.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the adjustable ladder support comprises a socket or receptacle 12 which is mounted upon a baseplate or foot member 14. At least the upper portion of the receptacle 12 is shaped to receive closely yet slidably the lower end portion 16 (FIG. 2) of one of the stiles of a conventional ladder. The receptacle 12 can be punched, extruded, or otherwise shaped from a suitable structural material such as steel, depending upon the anticipated or requisite supporting forces.

The lower end 18 of the receptacle 12 can be dished or tapered as illustrated to facilitate the punching operation, and also to enhance the structural rigidity of the receptacle 12. The punching or extruding operation also desirably forms a universal joint component, e.g. ball member 20, as a lower terminus of the receptacle 12, with the ball member joined through the tapered end wall 18 for structural soundness. As better shown in FIG. 1 the ball member 20 is disposed substantially centrally of the dished or tapered lower end 18 of the receptacle 12. In the illustrated arrangement, then, the ball member 20 which serves as a component of the universal joint structure 24 described below is formed integrally on the lower end of the receptacle 12, although the ball member can be formed otherwise and joined to the lower end of the receptacle 12 by welding, bolting or other suitable fastening means.

A securance stud 22 (FIG. 2) is mounted on the outer end surface of the ball member 20, and likewise enters into the universal joint structure 24. The securance stud 22 provides quick-attach means for assembly and disassembly of the universal joint 24 and thereby permits the receptacle 12 and associated components described below to be readily joined to a variety of base members such as the baseplate 14 depending upon the application of the invention and the character of available supporting surfaces for the ladder.

For maximum angular displacement in all directions of the universal joint 24, and attendantly of the receptacle l2 relative to the baseplate 14, the securance stud 22 desirably is located on the outermost surface of the joint member 20 as evident from FIG. 2. For maximum structural rigidity and symmetry of operation, the ball member 20 is desirably located centrally of the receptacle lower end 18 as pointed out above. The indicated locations of the ball member 20 and securance stud 22 also afford a maximum support for the socket l2 regardless of their angular disposition.

The baseplate 14 is provided with a socket component 26 which forms the other major component of the universal joint 24. The socket 26 in this example is punched or extruded from a central area of the baseplate 14, as illustrated with greater particularity in FIG. I. It will be understood that a variety of such spatial arrangements for the several components of the ladder support can be utilized without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The socket 26 in this example includes a frustoconical section 28 and a spheroidal section, in this case a more or less hemispherical section 30, both of which can be formed integrally with the baseplate 14 as illustrated. The spheroidal socket portion 30 is therefore shaped complementarily with the similarly spheroidal or rounded end portion 32 of the rounded member 20. The joint component 20 thus can be seated relatively closely within the spheroidal socket portion 30 but with sufficient clearance between the rounded member 20 and the junction 34 between the frustoconical and spherical socket portions 28, 30 to pennit the desired angular displacement of the receptacle 12 in any direction relative to the baseplate 14. Where additional angular displacement is necessary the cylindrical portion 36 can be milled or otherwise undercut in continuation of the rounded surface 32 of the joint member 20. Alternatively the spheroidal socket portion 30 can be made less than hemispherical for the same purpose.

The spheroidal socket 30 is provided with an aperture 38 which spacedly receives the aforementioned securance stud 22 and for symmetrical operation of the adjustable ladder support 10 is disposed symmetrically or centrally of the spheroidal socket 30. The socket aperture 38 therefore, upon angular displacement of the receptacle l2, affords a similar angular displacement of the securance stud 22 as the joint member 20 revolves within the socket 26.

The joint member 20 is movably or revolvably retained within the socket 26, in particular its spheroidal portion 30, by means of a complementarily shaped washer 40; that is to say, the upper surface of the washer 40 as viewed in FIG. 2 is complementary with the outer or lower surface of the spheroidal socket 30. Thus, the washer 40, which in this case is of spheroidal contour as is the outer surface of the socket seat 30, is more or less free to slide over the available outer surface of the spheroidal portion 30 during angulation of the universal joint 24. For this purpose the washer 40 is provided with a central aperture 42 through which the securance stud 22 is closely inserted. The securance stud 22 and cotter pin 44 or other suitable fastener inserted through the apertured end of the securance stud 22 thereby retain together the major components of the universal joint 24 i.e. the rounded member 20, the spheroidal socket 30, and the slidable washer 40. In this relation the socket portion 30 is entrapped between the rounded member 20 and the slidable washer 40, which are retained on the securance stud 22 as aforesaid.

The use of the slidable, and in this example spherical, washer 40 provides a relatively large area contact between the washer 40 and the socket 30, similar to that between the ball member 20 and the socket 30, such that wearing forces are not concentrated in any part of the universal joint 24. The spherical or domed shape of the washer 40 and other components of the universal joint 24 endow the universal joint with considerable structural strength.

The frustoconical section 28 is shaped such that the protruding end 45 of the securance stud 22 is spaced a sufficient distance from the underside of the baseplate 14 to avoid any possibility of contact with a given supporting surface of the ladder support 10.

The universal joint 24 can be readily disassembled in the event that it is desired to replace either the receptacle 12 or the baseplate 14 of a given ladder support 10. It may be desired to replace the baseplate 14 depending upon the character of the available supporting surface for the ladder, or to replace the receptacle 12 in the event that a ladder having oversized stiles is encountered. In the latter connection it is desirable, but not essential, to configure the receptacle 12 such that the stile 16 of the ladder fits snugly yet slidably therein for maximum stability.

It is contemplated, naturally, that a pair of the ladder supports 10 can be utilized with a given ladder, i.e. an adjustable ladder support 10 for the lower end of each ladder stile. On the contrary, it is considered that a single ladder support 10 can be utilized with one or the other of the ladder stiles. In such case the ready removability of the adjustable ladder support 10 permits the support 10 to be used with one or the other of the lower stile ends 16 depending upon the direction of slope of the supporting surface on which the ladder is used.

In accord with a further feature of my invention, means are provided for elevating the ladder stile end 16, and such means advantageously are associated with the receptacle 12. Elevating means of this character eliminate the necessity of raising and lowering the receptacle 12 with the adjacent end of the ladder and relative to a base member such as the support plate 14. As the receptacle 12 does require elevation relative to the baseplate 14, a simpler and sturdier universal joint structure 24 can be utilized. One form of such elevating means includes a stile plate 46 which can be raised and lowered by means of a jack mechanism 48 or the like. In this arrangement the stile plate 46 includes a ladder engaging portion 50 and a shank portion 52. As better shown in FIG. 1 and as indicated in FIG. 3 described below, the ladder engaging portion 50 is similar in contour to the inner cross-sectional area of the receptacle 12.

The stile plate portion 50 is thereby closely fitted within the receptacle 12, with adequate clearances for the elevation or raising and lowering of the stile plate 46.

. 'The shank portion 52 of the stile plate 46 is extended through an elongated slot 54 which extends substantially along the length of the receptacle 12 as evident from FIG. 2, or at least along the path of intended movement of the stile plate 46. The slot 54 thus permits movement or elevation of the stile plate 46 between a lowermost position denoted by chain outmeans of the jack mechanism 48 which will now be described.

In this example the jack mechanism includes a screw 60 which is desirably but not necessarily provided with an acme thread. A similarly threaded collar 62 is engaged with the screw 60 and is rigidly engaged with the stile plate shank 52. Turning of the screw 60 as described below thereby elevates the stile plate 46 by-means of the threaded collar or follower 62 which is, of course, not free to rotate. v

The jackscrew 60 is rotatably mounted in this example upon a pair of brackets 64, 66 or other suitable extension means protruding from the upper and lower end portions respectively of the receptacle 12 as shown in FIG. 2. The brackets 64, 66 are provided with aligned aperture 68 through which the jackscrew 60 is inserted. A collar or other suitable fastener such as a pinned hex nut 70 is secured to the lower end of the jack screw 60 to retain the jack screw at the lower bracket 66,

while the upper end of the jackscrew 60 is retained relative to the upper bracket 64 by a crank socket 72. Rotation of the jackscrew 60 can be effected by means of a crank 74, when engaged in the socket 72. The crank socket 72 desirably is provided with a wrench configuration 76 for operation by conventional hand tools, against the possibility of loss or misplacement of the crank 74. With the rugged construction of the adjustable ladder support 10, the ladder can be adequately supported on any type of surface, and the ladder support 10, moreover, canbe adjusted with a load on the stile plate 46.

The baseplate 14, in this example, is of cruciform construction with each of the baseplate arms 76 having a groundgripping cleat 17 or the like. The cleats 78 can be fabricated from a firm elastomeric material such as hard rubber or one of the known elastomeric substitutes of similar firmness. The cleats 78 are secured in this example to the undersurfaces of the end portions of the baseplate arms 76.

In FIG. 3 of the drawings wherein similar reference characters with primed accents denote similar components of the preceding figures, the structure of the ladder stile receptacle l2 and associated components is set forth with considerable clarity. In the example of FIG. 3 the receptacle 12', the rounded member the elevating mechanism 46'48', and the baseplate socket 26' are similar to the corresponding components of FIGS. 1 and 2 and need not be further described.

In the FIG. 3 modification, however, a different shape of baseplate 80 is employed. The baseplate 80, other suitable or desirable baseplate configuration, can be similarly provided with the socket structure 26 in the manner described previously. Gripping cleats 78 in this example are provided at the corners 82 of the baseplate 78 to enhance the frictional engagement of the baseplate 80 with the ground or other supporting surface on which the ladder is used. It will be understood, naturally, that the entire undersurface of the baseplate 80, with the exception of the socket area 26' where the socket is formed or shaped integrally, can be provided with a similarly shaped cleat member (not shown).

From the foregoing it will be apparent that novel and efficient forms of Ladder Support have been described herein. While I have shown and described certain presently preferred embodiments of the invention and have illustrated presently preferred methods of practicing the same, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto, but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Iclaim:

l. A ladder support comprising an elongated receptacle member shaped to receive an end portion of a stile of a ladder through an open end of said receptacle member, the other end of said receptacle member being shaped into a universal joint component, a base member for said support, said base member having a cooperating universal joint component extending from a central area thereof, means for joining said receptacle member to said base member in cooperative engagement of their universal joint components, said receptacle joint component being a rounded section spacedly joined to said other end by a formed portion of said receptacle member, said base member component being shaped complementarily with said rounded section and being mounted on a formed and raised section thereof, and elevating means mounted on said receptacle member and disposed to engage an end of said stile upon insertion into said receptacle member for movably positioning said ladder stile longitudinally of said receptacle member.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said rounded section is joined to said receptacle member other end by means of an inclined end wall portion.

3. The combination according to claim 2 wherein said base member component is joined to said base member by means of a frustoconical formed extension thereof.

4. An adjustable ladder support comprising an elongated receptacle member shaped to receive an end portion of a ladder stile through one end thereof, means for supporting the other end of said receptacle member, a stile plate movable mounted within said receptacle and engageable with an end portion of said stile upon insertion thereof into said receptacle member, and means for moving said stile plate along at least a portion of the length of said receptacle member to vary the position of said stile relative to said receptacle.

5. The combination according to claim 4 wherein said stile plate is substantially coextensive with a cross-sectional area of said receptacle member, and said moving means include a jack mechanism threadedly engaged with said stile plate.

6. The combination according to claim 4 wherein said stile plate includes a shank portion extending through a slot in said receptacle member, said slot extending along said receptacle member length, and said shank portion engaging said moving means.

7. The combination according to claim 6 wherein said moving means includes a jackscrew rotatably mounted on extension means secured to said receptacle member, a threaded collar is threadedly engaged with said jackscrew and is affixed to said shank portion, and means are provided for rotating said jackscrew.

8. The combination according to claim 4 wherein said receptacle member is joined to said support means through a universal joint construction.

9. The combination according to claim 8 wherein said universal joint construction includes universal joint components formed respectively on said receptacle member and said supporting means.

10. The combination according to claim 4 wherein said base member is of cruciform configuration.

11. The combination according to claim 10 wherein support gripping means are secured to a juxtaposed surface of each arm of said cruciform configuration.

'12. The combination according to claim 4 wherein said receptacle member is joined universal joint mechanism.

to said supporting means by a 13. The combination according to claim 12 wherein components of said joint mechanism member and on said supporting are formed on said receptacle means respectively.

14. The combination according to claim 13 wherein said joint mechanism components are joined respectively to said 

1. A ladder support comprising an elongated receptacle member shaped to receive an end portion of a stile of a ladder through an open end of said receptacle member, the other end of said receptacle member being shaped into a universal joint component, a base member for said support, said base member having a cooperating universal joint component extending from a central area thereof, means for joining said receptacle member to said base member in cooperative engagement of their universal joint components, said receptacle joint component being a rounded section spacedly joined to said other end by a formed portion of said receptacle member, said base member component being shaped complementarily with said rounded section and being mounted on a formed and raised section thereof, and elevating means mounted on said receptacle member and disposed to engage an end of said stile upon insertion into said receptacle member for movably positioning said ladder stile longitudinally of said receptacle member.
 2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said rounded section is joined to said receptacle member other end by means of an inclined end wall portion.
 3. The combination according to claim 2 wherein said base member component is joined to said base member by means of a frustoconical formed extension thereof.
 4. An adjustable ladder support comprising an elongated receptacle member shaped to receive an end portion of a ladder stile through one end thereof, means for supporting the other end of said receptacle member, a stile plate movable mounted within said receptacle and engageable with an end portion of said stile upon insertion thereof into said receptacle member, and means for moving said stile plate along at least a portion of the length of said receptacle member to vary the position of said stile relative to said receptacle.
 5. The combination according to claim 4 wherein said stile plate is substantially coextensive with a cross-sectional area of said receptacle member, and said moving means include a jack mechanism threadedly engaged with said stile plate.
 6. The combination according to claim 4 wherein said stile plate includes a shank portion extending through a slot in said receptacle member, said slot extending along said receptacle member length, and said shank portion engaging said moving means.
 7. The combination according to claim 6 wherein said moving means includes a jackscrew rotatably mounted on extension means secured to said receptacle member, a threaded collar is threadedly engaged with said jackscrew and is affixed to said shank portion, and means are provided for rotating said jackscrew.
 8. The combination according to claim 4 wherein said receptacle member is joined to said support means through a universal joint construction.
 9. The combination according to claim 8 wherein said universal joint construction includes universal joint components formed respectively on said receptacle member and said supporting means.
 10. The combination according to claim 4 wherein said base member is of cruciform configuration.
 11. The combination according to claim 10 wherein support gripping means are secured to a juxtaposed surface of each arm of said cruciform configuration.
 12. The combination according to claim 4 wherein said receptacle member is joined to said supporting means by a universal joint mechanism.
 13. The combination according to claim 12 wherein components of said joint mechanism are formed on said receptacle member and on said supporting means respectively.
 14. The combination according to claim 13 wherein said joint mechanism components are joined respectively to said receptacle member and to said supporting means by means of inclined wall portions thereof.
 15. The combination according to claim 13 wherein said receptacle member component is a rounded extension spacedly joined to the other end of said receptacle member, and said supporting means component is shaped for complementary engagement with said rounded extension. 